CD Farms and Ranch
Limousin, Limflex, Angus, and Commercial Cattle
Livestock
The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.
Dueteronomy 28:8
CATTLE
Limousin & Limflex
Limousin cattle originate from the region of France from which they derive their name. They were first mentioned in a letter from the 18th century in which a merchant wrote to see if he could "count of the Limousin beef to supply Paris." They are the second most numerous breed of cattle in France after Charolais. Their coloring is distinctively blonde to red, though many of the Limousin on CD Farms come in the newer color, black, which is popular in todays market.
When people think of Limousin, they think "MUSCLE." This hardly animal was originally used as a draft animal, a beast of burden, and when that wasn't enough for the pioneers of the breed, they crossed the breed with oxen after 1840.
On paper, the breed seems rather modern. But unoffically, archeologist have found cave paintings of bulls with features distinctive of the breed, making it potentially on of the oldest in the world, or at least a close relative to the ancient breeds of France!
What's so great about Limousin?
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They are great calvers! They tend to have low birthweights, which is great if you HATE pulling calves at all hours of the day and night!
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While you STILL need to vaccinate your cattle, Limousin tend to have great immune systems! (I mean, you cross something with an OXEN and what do you expect?)
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Many farmers praise the Limousin breed for its efficiency in converting feed to weight at a slightly thriftier rate than some other breeds.
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You want to talke about marbling? Let's talk. Once called, "The Butcher's Beef," their carcasses have up to 80% meat yields in some cases! The ratio of good beef to waste products like bone and fat is excellent.
Limflex, as mentioned in the header, are simply Limousin/Angus cattle. I remember showing one of these (our Supreme Heifer) at a district fair. The judge looked very closely at her, but couldn't place a LIMFLEX first! She was fantastic, amazing, wonderful! But, being a new breed at that time, it wasn't politically savvy to go with her over the more established cattle. Of course, that was ten years ago.
Today, people LOVE this combination breed (Yes, BREED) because it combines the elegance and femininity of Angus with the raw power of the buff Limousin. Imagine if an all-American beauty queen had a baby with rough and tumble street brawler. Limflex are the Wonder Women of cattle.
But I am a little biased, I suppose...
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Angus
Ah, Angus. The superstars of the beef cattle world. Go to Mickey D's? What do they advertise?
100% Angus Beef.
Go to a cattle show. Who's usually winning?
Either a) Angus or b) Herefords.
And, for some reason, black cattle, especially Angus, tend to go for more on the market than cattle of other colors. People respect this breed. The word "Angus" commands people's attention.
So what in the world is so special about them?
I am so glad you asked.
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Black Angus is the most common pure breed of cattle in the U. S., with over 350,000 registered animals.
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Most Angus are medium to large, with bulls weighing on average 1,870 pounds while cows weigh in at about 1,200. They can be crossed with bigger breeds, like Herefords, for higher yield. These particular crosses are called "Black Baldies."
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They are SWEETHEARTS. They have a docile and easy-going temperament. These are the cocker spaniels of the cattle world. Who wouldn't be enamored with them?
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Angus are HEARTY. They come from good ol' Scottland, where they roam the rugged landscape and endure the harsh winters. They don't really like the heat, but their dark coloring protects them from cancer eye and sunburn.
I once met a lady who accused the American Angus Association of having one standard for their beef: 51% black cattle.
But that isn't true. If it were, I'd cash in big with my black Limousin. Here are the REAL standards.
In order to be labeled “Black Angus Beef” by the USDA graders, cattle must meet all 10 of the following criteria:
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Modest or higher degree of marbling
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Medium or fine marbling texture
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10 to 16 square inch ribeye area
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Less than 1,000 pound hot carcass weight
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Less than 1-inch fat thickness
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Moderately thick or thicker muscling
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No hump on the neck exceeding 2 inches
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Practically free of capillary rupture
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No dark cutting characteristics
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Black hair color.
Charolais (Our Honorable Mention)
For a bunch of people descended from Britain, the Smith family sure seems to belive in Vive la France.
Another French breed, the Smiths have long raised Charolais, and Ashlynn Smith especially tends to take after that family line.
The Charolais were recognized as a breed in 1775. One of the oldest of the French cattle breeds, Charolais is considered of Jurassic origin and was developed in the district around Charolles in Central France.
Charolais tend to be big eaters like the Smiths themselves. The cattle grow quickly, and are excellent at fast weight-gain. Their big appetite can hinder some farmers, however. The need to provide constant high levels of food can drain resources if farmers are not sufficiently prepared. However, the cattle have the ability to graze efficiently on most pastures, and they convert their feed to muscle with ease. This is important for farmers whose land is less than suitable for other breeds who would struggle to nourish themselves properly on their farm.
People are often struck by the appearance of Charolais cattle. They are really the only totally white breed of cattle I know of, and as far as temperament, they tend to be docile and lazy, but that could just be our breeding program, trainings, or experience with the Charolais, as other farmers sometimes see them as "flighty."
POULTRY
Chickens
Dakota's precious pet project started with Bovan Brown chickens purchased for $6 apiece from her neighbor.
Bovan Browns are hybrids, the result of crossing a Rhode Island Red cock with a Light Sussex hen. It is a friendly type of bird with brown feathering and creamy shades that could lay about 330 plus brown eggs per year.
Dakota recently added baby chicks to her growing flock. However, since she ordered a "Rainbow Surprise" from Cackle Hatchery, she doesn't know what they are yet, only that the 19 chicks will one day lay "every color of the rainbow!"
African Geese
Truly a farm favorite, the African geese came to us as goslings purchased from Sloan Farms in Harrison, Arkansas. They are Dakota's favorite birds, as they follow her around the farm and come when called. Geese sometimes get a bad reputation for their sassy attitudes, but that doesn't seem to be a problem since their mistress is just as feisty. The children love their gentle temperaments and watching them swim in their kiddie pool.
Ducks
Ally and Ashlynn's favorites, the French Rouen duck and the Chinese Pekin are also purchases from Sloan Farms. They are still ducklings, but so far, while they are not as easy trained as geese, they aren't as messy and are a fine pet for the girls.